Some Overdue Reviews for You... and a Give Away!

I keep a little wicker basket on my book shelf that is filled with items which have been sent to me to review. Sometimes (rarely) the basket is empty - but most of the time it has a few things waiting for attention. Lately, because of the season I'm in right now (back to school, pregnancy, starting my photography business, fundraising for a conference next month, working on the Homeschool Blog Awards PR, etc)... it stays REALLY FULL. It is so full right now that it is stressing me out and I have actually been saying no to almost all the requests I get via email (and avoiding as much email as I can). Instead of eating chocolate in my self pity or having a panic attack over it, I'm going to get out a few things today and review them for you... and then, because I love you for putting up with me, I'm going to do another give-away!

So what does a crazy, pregnant, homeschooling, photography-addicted Texas mom blogger have in her 'review box'?



1. Movie: Extraordinary Measures by Sony Pictures (starring Brendan Fraser, Harrison Ford, and Keri Russell)

I'm always looking for movies that the entire family can watch. I really enjoyed this movie - even if it had a bit more cussing than I normally like the kids to hear. My movie-watching kids are older now (13 and 11). I felt that the story line - one that was inspired by a true story - was totally worth the language. It shows the passion and love that a father has for his chronically ill kids... and how far he's willing to go to create a world in which they can grow up and thrive. 

In the movie, Harrison Ford plays a really smart scientist that works on the cure for life-threatening illness. The main character (Brendan Fraser) is father to two children that have the illness and time is running out for him to raise the money and find a researcher and pharmaceutical company willing to help his kids survive.

View trailer here: www.extraordinarymeasuresthemovie.com

The book "The Cure" by Geeta Anand was the inspiration behind the movie, and the movie was so inspiring that it made me want to read Geeta's book to find out what the real story was behind this amazing film. My kids adored the little girl in this movie - she was so spunky!

I give it a thumbs up and suggest that you add it to your family's media collection for movie night!



2. Books: Robot Wars Series by Sigmund Brouwer (Tyndale)

"Life in an experimental community on Mars is filled with adventure, new discoveries, and questions. As 14-year-old virtual-reality specialist Tyce Sanders searches for the truth, he battles forces of evil - all while struggling to believe in God."

My son, the robot-loving 13 year old really enjoyed these books. He has only read a few of them, but wants the whole series now that Tyndale gave us Book #1 (which we didn't currently have). I love the fact that he's enjoying reading and I trust that the content is being presented in a Christian fashion due to the quality of the publisher. There are 5 books in the Robot Wars series (which previously went by the name 'Mars Diaries').

Sigmund Brouwer has published quite a few series of juvenile fiction and a number of novels. He has a website for those interested at www.coolreading.com/kids.



3. Books: The Dopple Ganger Chronicles by G.P. Taylor (Tyndale)

G.P. Taylor has been praised as "The new C.S. Lewis" by BBC's Heaven and Earth Show. The London Times has called Taylor "Hotter than Potter". I know that my two tween kids were fighting over these two first installment books that Tyndale sent - so I'm inclined to believe it! These books are not just regular books... they are the new trendy "Graphic Novels" with art, comic strip inserts, and really groovy font play to punch their message and make the story more interesting.

In book 1: 'The First Escape'... The story unfolds around fourteen-year-old identical twins named Sadie and Saskia Dopple. They attend Isambard Dunstan's School for Wayward Children. When Saskia mysteriously gets adopted by a wealthy old woman, she discovers a plot against her life. Will the escaped trio of orphans (including Saskia's twin sister Sadie) be able to save her?

In Book 2, 'The Secret of Indigo Moon'... another perilous mystery begins...

I haven't read the books, but I love the artwork and my kids couldn't put them down. Every time they go in to Barnes & Noble, they ask the information desk lady if the third book has come out. Thankfully I was able to find out from my twitter friend at Tyndale House that the third installment of this series will be out next year. My kids would tell you to "GO BUY IT!"

Now if you read all the way through my reviews, I have something special for you here at the end of the post... a chance to win your own copy of Extraordinary Measures!

Here's how you can win it (each comment worth 1 entry, limit 4 besides tweets):
1. Leave me a comment telling me what your top 5 favorite family movies you have seen in the past few years are.
2. Tweet about this post:
3. Subscribe to my blog's RSS or email feed.
4. Add your pretty face to my Google Friend Box

Comments will be accepted through Sunday night at midnight. Winner will be chosen and announced next week! If you don't leave me an email address, it is really hard for me to notify you that you won (this happened in a recent give-away I had). If you don't claim your prize in a week, I'll have to pass it on to the next person in line!

*Popcorn, candy and drinks not included.